Your closest companion may be a robot in the future

Robots may soon be your closest companions and intellectual guides thanks to the work of robot designers and a couple who want to keep living even after they pass away. Bina-48 is a human-like robot modeled after a real person, Bina Rothblatt and uses speech recognition software to become accustomed to your voice and hold simple conversations. She can also repeat encyclopedia knowledge and recall personal life stories about about the real-life Bina.

Bina-48 is a $125,000 project of the Terasem Movement Foundation and her human-like head, neck, and shoulders were designed out of a patented material called “frubber” to give her normal facial characteristics. Bina-48 was crafted over a three year period by famous robot designer David Hanson.

The Terasem Movement Foundation believes “immortality is accomplished by creating consciousness in self-replicating machines.” Bina-48 is a model of that principle and is an invention of the married founders of the Terasem Movement- Martine and Bina Rothblatt who have four children together. Originally a man, “Martin” became “Martine” after a sex change operation in 1994.

The Huffington Post reports the Rothblatts believe that “even after they pass away their lives will somehow continue, and they’ll communicate to each other through their mindfiles, or mindclones.”

“We are offering people the opportunity to cram twice as much life into each day, absorb twice as many interesting things and continue living beyond the days of their bodies,” Martine Rothblatt wrote on her blog in April of last year.

Some may see Bina-48 as a invention propelling humans into the future of advanced robotics, while others may see her as a precursor to future destruction.

The ethical controversies of human-like robots have been profoundly voiced in the media, the most recognized depiction being shown in the film, I, Robot, that is partially based off Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot science fiction story collection.

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law

Even if we do not realize, our lives are already being manipulated in some forms. Through cookies and search tools, your interests are marketed to you on sidebars of websites, like Facebook. Also, Siri, a mini robot program, in the iPhone 4s helps to plan your everyday life. The future of robots as we progress is unclear, but you may find that in a couple of years from now, your professor may be a robot; your coffee server may be a robot or even your closest friend. Check out these other human-like robot inventions.